Distylium plant named ‘sPg-3-007’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Distylium  plant named ‘sPg-3-007’, characterized by its compact and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit, dense and bushy plant form; dark purple-colored stems leaves; light yellow-colored developing leaves occasionally with dark green-colored speckles; relatively small fully developed leaves that are dark green in color; and good container and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Distylium myricoides.

Cultivar denomination: ‘sPg-3-007’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Distylium plant, botanically known as Distylium myricoides and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘sPg-3-007’.

The new Distylium plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamed proprietary selection of Distylium myricoides, not patented. The new Distylium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor on a single plant from within a population of plants of the unnamed proprietary selection in a controlled nursery environment in North Augusta, S.C. in June, 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Distylium plant by semi-hardwood cuttings in a controlled environment in North August, S.C. since June, 2006 has shown that the unique features of this new Distylium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Distylium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘sPg-3-007’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘sPg-3-007’ as a new and distinct Distylium plant:

-   -   1. Compact and outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit, dense and bushy plant form.     -   3. Dark purple-colored stems leaves.     -   4. Developing leaves that are light yellow in color occasionally         with dark green-colored speckles.     -   5. Fully developed leaves that are dark green in color and         relatively small.     -   6. Good container and garden performance.

Plants of the new Distylium can be compared to plants of the parent selection. Plants of the new Distylium differ primarily from plants of the parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Distylium are more compact than and not as         vigorous as plants of the parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the Distylium and the parent selection differ in         stem color as plants of the parent selection have olive         green-colored stems.     -   3. Plants of the Distylium and the parent selection differ in         developing leaf color as plants of the parent selection have         olive green-colored developing leaves.

Plants of the new Distylium can also be compared to plants of Distylium myricoides ‘Vintage Jade’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Distylium differed primarily from plants of ‘Vintage Jade’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Distylium were more compact than plants of         ‘Vintage Jade’.     -   2. Plants of the Distylium and ‘Vintage Jade’ differed in         developing stem color as plants of ‘Vintage Jade’ had light         green-colored stems.     -   3. Plants of the new Distylium had smaller leaves than plants of         ‘Vintage Jade’.     -   4. Plants of the Distylium and ‘Vintage Jade’ differed in         developing leaf color as plants of ‘Vintage Jade’ had light         green-colored developing leaves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Distylium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Distylium plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘sPg-3-007’.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical plant of ‘sPg-3-007’.

The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘sPg-3-007’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring and summer in seven-gallon containers in an outdoor nursery in Park Hill, Okla. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Distylium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 22° C. and night temperatures averaged 9° C. Plants were three years old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Distylium myricoides ‘SPg-3-007’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamed     proprietary selection of Distylium myricoides, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By semi-hardwood cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About six weeks at soil             temperatures ranging from 24° C. to 29.5° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About nine weeks at soil             temperatures ranging from 15.5° C. to 18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About five to             six months at soil temperatures ranging from 24° C. to 29.5°             C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About seven             months at soil temperatures ranging from 4.5° C. to 18° C.         -   Root description.—Medium to thin in thickness, fibrous;             brown in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Perennial shrub; compact and             outwardly spreading plant habit; moderately vigorous growth             habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with lateral             branches potentially developing at every node; dense and             bushy plant form.         -   Plant height.—About 45.7 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 106 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 55.9 cm.         -   Diameter, immature.—About 2 mm.         -   Diameter, mature.—About 1.9 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.1 cm.         -   Aspect.—About 60° from vertical.         -   Strength.—Strong; flexible when immature.         -   Texture.—Pubescent, fine.         -   Color, immature.—Close to 187B becoming closer to 146B with             development.         -   Color, mature.—Close to 199A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single.         -   Length.—About 3.4 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; thick; leathery.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Pubescent, fine; thick; leathery.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 160B             occasionally with sparse speckles, close to 1487A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 160D tinged with             close to 146C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close             to 147A or 139A; venation, close to 147B. Fully expanded             leaves, lower surface: Close to 146C and 147B; venation,             close to 147C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.8 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower             surface: Pubescent, fine. Color, upper surface: Close to             146B. Color, lower surface: Close to 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Single flowers             arranged in terminal and axillary racemes; freely flowering             habit; flowers face mostly upright.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of             the new Distylium flower during the late winter in Oklahoma.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about one week on the plant;             flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower diameter.—About 9 mm.         -   Flower length.—About 1 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 8 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.6 mm. Diameter: About 1.8 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 199A.         -   Petals.—Flowers of the new Distylium are apetalous.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Typically four sepals in a single             whorl; polysepalous. Length: About 3.2 mm. Width: About             1.5 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, fleshy.             Texture, lower surface: Lepidote; leathery. Color, upper             surface: Close to 158D. Color, lower surface: Close to 147C;             scales, close to 199C.         -   Bracts.—Arrangement: Typically four bracts in a single loose             whorl. Length: About 3.1 mm. Width: About 0.8 mm. Shape:             Globular. Apex: Acute. Base: Rounded. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth. Color, upper             surface: Close to 72B. Color, lower surface: Close to 72D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Strength: Flexible. Texture: Pubescent, fine. Color: Close             to 146C; pubescence, close to 166A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm.             Strength: Flexible. Texture: Pubescent, fine. Color: Close             to 146C; pubescence, close to 166A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: About seven             to ten per flower. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament             color: Close to 146D. Anther length: About 1.8 mm. Anther             color: Close to 187B. Amount of pollen: Moderate. Pollen             color: Close to 158D. Gynoecium: Pistil number: Two per             flower. Pistil length: About 1.1 cm. Style length: About             3 mm. Style color: Close to 146B. Stigma color: Close to             187C. Ovary color: Close to 146D.         -   Fruits.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Color:             Close to 200C.         -   Seeds.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Color:             Close to N200A. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Distylium have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to about 40.5° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Distylium have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Distylium plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Distylium plant named ‘sPg-3-007’ as illustrated and described. 